Wow! Where did the summer go? 

It’s been a good one, a little dry right now, normal for August, but overall good garden weather. Have been on a steady diet of tomatoes, sugar snaps, and bean thanks to the numerous plants in the veggie garden. And the squash is coming along quite nicely. Tried some new beans this year – purple pole and rattlesnake – best we’ve ever eaten. Definitely going to expand the bean bed next year.

A friend of mine gave me a fabulous pinky winky hydrangea. An old garden was in the process of being redesigned and it needed something spectacular – and this plant sure is.

The large white flower spikes open in mid to late summer, and as summer turns to fall the flowers at the base turn pink. They continue to grow, producing new white florets at the very tip. The result is a stunning two-toned flower  that can reach up to 16 inches in length! 

The hardiest of all hydrangeas – to USDA plant hardiness zones 3 through 9, pinky winky is drought tolerant, provides bright color right through until the frost hits and grows to 8 feet high and 6 feet wide. 

This hydrangea blooms on new wood – prune in late winter or early spring for an incredible summer flower show!